Doctors133
for 6

Stags 128
for 9

Doctors’
captain Peter Reed won the toss for the 7th successive time and
for the 7th successive time chose to bat.The decision had mixed results as Phil
Barker battered a belligerent 19 before attempting a pull shot to a ball from
Dave Wilsdon which kept low and pinned him lbw on the back foot.Wilsdon (1-15) and Bruce Richardson (2-19)
made good use of the bouncy Holford pitch and overcast conditions that
allowed lavish swing and with three good catches by keeper Paul Charles the
visitors were pegged back at 31 for 3.The Doctors batting had been unusually frenetic until the Cannington
Surgery partnership of John Ogle and Charles Macadam produced a fine half
century stand.Thoroughbred cover
drives were the feature of Ogle’s innings of 36 which ended when he got
a thin edge to the deserving Steve Dickens.Simon Scarborough (1-28) and Dickens (2-18) bowled tightly and swung
the balance back in Stags’ favour but Macadam (29 n.o.) played the
potentially match winning innings which kept he scoreboard moving and allowed
Steve Witts (28 n.o. off 9 balls) to come in and smash the ball to all parts.

The start of
Stags’ innings was no less exciting as Gordon Elkins and Simon Foyle
took 10 off the first over and cantered along with consummate ease in a stand
of 60 for the first wicket.Doctors’ bowling and fielding had initially lacked its customary
sharpness but John Down (1-29) made the first incision by bowling Foyle for
an excellent 25 and Mike Sullivan (1-14) applied the brakes as he settled
into his habitual rhythm and yielded only 3 runs from his last 3 overs.Elkins spirited innings of 35 ended with a
soft run out when he took on Harry Lee at cover who had time to underarm the
ball on to the stumps, which left Stags’ main hopes resting on the
broad shoulders of Dickens.He played
a selection of beautiful pulls and extra cover drives and at 117 for 3 with
16 balls left the home side were clear favourites.The defining moment came when Dickens (35)
pulled Lee straight into the hands of Down on the deep midwicket
boundary.By now the bowlers and
fielders were hampered by steady rain but the ball was still moving in the
air and the light was deteriorating.14 runs were required from the last 2 overs but ice cool bowling from
Reed (2-24) and Lee (4-19) saw a clatter of wickets and one final swing of
the pendulum in favour of the visitors.